Little Caesars Arena is seen during a break after the second period during the Duel in the D NCAA college hockey game between Michigan and Michigan State, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018 in Detroit. The Wolverines defeated the Spartans, 3-2. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

DETROIT – The Ducks will play their first game at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday night when they take on the Detroit Red Wings to start a string of four straight contests on the road.

After Monday’s travel day, the team took a full morning skate to get acquainted with the $863-million facility that opened Sept. 5. The Red Wings played at now vacant Joe Louis Arena for 37 years.

Modeled in large part after Montreal’s Bell Centre, Ducks coach Randy Carlyle was left with a highly favorable first impression of LCA. He liked the “great, bright sightlines” and thinks the facility will help continue the resurgence of downtown Detroit but also found it odd not to be at “The Joe.”

“It is a little weird,” Carlyle said. “The funny part about it is I played in the Joe when it first opened. I played a couple games in the old Olympia and then moved over the Joe. It was state-of-the-art at that time. And it was a special place. It’s amazing how many years have gone by.

“This seems to be another step up obviously in what they’ve done here. It’s a beautiful building.”

Cam Fowler, who was raised in nearby Farmington Hills, Mich., also had some lament for the old arena, which was built in 1979 to replace the Detroit Olympia.

“I was lucky enough to play my first NHL game at Joe Louis in front of all my friends and family so that’s a memory that will stick out to me for a long time,” Fowler said. “Any time I come to Detroit, it’s a special place for me. Obviously it’s where I grew up and I watched the Red Wings all growing up.

“Kind of sad to see the Joe go. I really enjoyed playing there. Everything I’ve heard about this rink is all great things and I know they’ve put a lot of work and effort into it. I’ve only got a little taste of it so far. But I’m looking forward to tonight’s game.”

John Gibson (19-14-6, 2.60 GAA, .923 SV%) will get the start in goal for the Ducks (27-19-11), who are trying to move past a damaging 3-2 shootout loss to San Jose on Sunday after holding a 2-0 lead on the Sharks in the third period.

Dennis Rasmussen was not claimed off waivers by another NHL team and the Ducks will terminate the remainder of his one-year contract, paving the way for the Swedish forward to seek employment elsewhere.

If he wasn’t in the NHL, Rasmussen reportedly preferred a return to Sweden instead of playing in the American Hockey League. He had four goals and six assists in 17 games with the San Diego Gulls.

The Ducks put defenseman Korbinian Holzer on waivers Tuesday in a move that could be in preparation for Marcus Pettersson’s first call-up to the parent club. A second-round selection in 2014, the 21-year-old Pettersson has 14 assists and a plus-7 rating in 44 games with San Diego.

Here is the projected lineup for the Ducks:

Rickard Rakell-Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry

Andrew Cogliano-Ryan Kesler-Jakob Silfverberg

Nick Ritchie-Adam Henrique-Ondrej Kase

Chris Wagner-Antoine Vermette-J.T. Brown

Hampus Lindholm-Josh Manson

Cam Fowler-Kevin Bieksa

Francois Beauchemin-Brandon Montour

The Red Wings (22-23-9) will miss out on the postseason for a second consecutive year as they continue their rebuilding process after a run of 25 straight playoff berths.

Anthony Mantha is an example of the newer talent they’re working into the proud franchise as it transitions away from defenseman Niklas Kronwall and venerable center and captain Henrik Zetteberg, the last links to their 2008 Stanley Cup team.

Mantha leads Detroit with 19 goals. Three of his goals have come in the last two games and Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill has been complimentary of the winger after criticizing his effort at times this season. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Mantha can be a handful for the opposition.

“What I’m seeing is work ethic,” Blashill told the Detroit Free Press. “He’s been excellent. His second effort has been good. His skating has been really good.”

Andreas Athanasiou is another one of Detroit’s developing young wingers. Inconsistency has plagued the speedy Athanasiou at times but he has flashed immense offensive talent at times. He has 10 goals and 14 assists.

Center Dylan Larkin, who leads them with 42 points, is part of the newer core going forward. Forward Tyler Bertuzzi (10 points in 20 games) is making his way into the league after being called up from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. The nephew of former NHL forward Todd Bertuzzi could draw in for David Booth.

The Red Wings are expected to be sellers at the Feb. 26 NHL trade deadline, and they’ve got some pieces that could fetch quality prospects and high draft picks. All-Star defenseman Mike Green (6 goals, 22 assists) is among the most attractive.

Others that could draw interest are winger Gustav Nyquist and defenseman Trevor Daley, though both have term left on their current deals. Nyquist is 28, while Daley is 34.

Jimmy Howard (15-17-6, 2.85 GAA, .910 SV%) will get the start in net. Howard has a 9-5-2 lifetime record against the Ducks with an impressive 2.25 goals-against average and .924 save percentage.

Eric Stephens has been covering the Ducks and the NHL for news outlets since 2005 and for the Orange County Register since 2009. Now happily spreading the hockey gospel throughout the Southern California News Group. Has covered three Stanley Cup Finals and (sadly) one NHL lockout. Once took up an invitation to a fan's tailgate barbecue at the College World Series. Has all sorts of genres on his iPod and tries his best in whatever he does most of the time. Only the grits at Waffle House come close to his. Eternal goal: Be better.

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